Pagrip takes position at the front of the wagon again. It's not long before he's starting to feel the strain. "How much farther?" he moans.
Pagrip also starts suffering from fatigue; perhaps the malnutrition of an extended life on the streets has grated a bit on his otherwise stout dwarven physique. In spite of Caulder's fears, Verik doesn't give them any trouble - he's sitting on the wagon in stoic defiance.
A couple of street kids come running by, pointing and laughing; they march as close as they dare next to the three pusher'pullers and pretend to exert themselves pushing the air. While making muuuuuuuiiii sounds.
A couple of street kids come running by, pointing and laughing; they march as close as they dare next to the three pusher'pullers and pretend to exert themselves pushing the air. While making muuuuuuuiiii sounds.
"Hey!" Caulder barks at the ragamuffins. "Have some respect for the Bank! Or do I have to take you to an orphanage to learn some respect? Go on, get!"
Pagrip stumbles along, huffing and puffing. He glances at Ten. "Why did I agree to do this, again?"
When the street kids come by, Pagrip stops pulling momentarily and offers his spot to one of them. "Think you can do better? Be my guest."
When Caulder yells at the kids, he resumes pulling and says to Ten, "Ah, typical Caulder. His solution to everything is to yell at it."
The kids leave after a minute or two; perhaps properly chastised by Caulder. Perhaps merely bored and looking for new excitement. One lags behind a bit, limping exaggeratedly, but he too is around a corner shortly afterward. In a way it is good, there is enough normality restored that children can be, well, children.
The party has been making good headway; but they still only about half-way; the afternoon is becoming long and rather warm. The effort of moving the cart along is anything but a walk in the park. The question presents itself, whether the heroes would take a breather and recover their strengths; or push through - hoping to get it over with sooner rather than later.
Seeing Ten and Pagrip flagging, Caulder stumps over. "Here. I'll take a turn again. The sooner we get these deserters handed over the proper authorities, the better. The way things have been going the past few days, I wouldn't be at all surprised if they all came to and ran away a block from the Citadel."
Esmerelda, almost obliviously, continues to push the cart.
"Caulder, I don't think you should push yourself too hard - especially with that leg," Ten replied. "I just need a moment to catch my breath. Five minutes, that's all I need. Then we can get going again."
The late sun creates a thick halo around Citadel Volshyenek as the four manage - huffing and puffing - to push the cart into the yard surrounding the citadel. Verek and his renegades are quickly interred by the gate guards; the attending officer tries to delay the party going to see the Field Marshal: "She's finally gotten to bed for an hour; I'll not disturb her now!" But his sentence is barely done when the voice of the Cressida Kroft rings across the yard. "They'll see me now, captain!"
When the four arrive in her office they are just in time to see a cleric of Abadar cast a spell on the Field Marshal.
She looks tired, with noticeable rings under her eyes, but she seems a bit relieved after the spell is administered.
"You're a prompt bunch, I give you that. Verik - and all of the other desserters - and all alive. This may be a bit much for the task, but I think it's a worthwhile investment into you four. Korvosa will need you longer still." She produces a fairly fat pouch of coins, and adds a second smaller pouch afterward.
800 gold in the big pouch, and a bonus 200 gold in the smaller one.
"So tell me, what was Verik's plan. Why did he dessert the guard?"
Somehow, Caulder finds a second wind and manages to make it the rest of the way to the Citadel, where he is relieved to see Verik and the others safely inside the walls -- and now someone else's responsibility. At the Field Marshal's question, he glances aside at Esmerelda, deferring to her to explain what they learned from Verik.
Pagrip collapses onto the ground when they finally reach the Citadel. Somehow, he manages to pull himself into Kroft's office, but then sinks down against a wall, breathing heavily. Utterly exhausted, he lets somebody else answer the questions.
While paler than usual, Esmerelda does not seem at all tired. She gives Pagrip a quick look of concern and then reports what they have found leaving out no details. She ends with "...in summary, it seems he did it for Korvosa while being led astray by his girlfriend. We have not discovered the identity of this person. It seems his intentions are good, but the execution of his plan less so."
"If I might be so bold, Field Marshal. You do look like you need some rest. Surely there is someone that can stand in for you for a few hours?" Esmerelda enquires with a note of concern in her voice.
Ten, thoroughly exhausted, plops down next to Pagrip.
"Pagrip, I bet that Esmerelda suggests that she's just the perfect candidate to stand in for the Field Marshall," Ten whispered to the dwarf.
"Seems to me that some of you need the rest even more so," she smiles a brittle smile, "but thank you for your concern. It is a pity that you didn't find some more damning evidence against them - I've received a report recently of people vanishing around All the World's Meat. Though that doesn't come as that much a surprise; I've got reports of citizens vanishing all over Korvosa."
"No need to worry about me, I'll probably manage to get two maybe three hours tonight for a quick break. That will have to do. Consider yourselves off-duty; if you want, the canteen should be able to serve you a simple meal. Please report to me again promptly tomorrow morning at 10."
"Very well, Field Marshal. Do you mind if I enquire with Verik about missing people?"
"Seems to me that some of you need the rest even more so," she smiles a brittle smile, "but thank you for your concern. It is a pity that you didn't find some more damning evidence against them - I've received a report recently of people vanishing around All the World's Meat. Though that doesn't come as that much a surprise; I've got reports of citizens vanishing all over Korvosa."
"Might still be there, ma'am," Caulder volunteers. "We didn't take the time to search the place well, being more concerned with getting the deserters back here as ordered; Vancaskerkin had already agreed to go with us once and then changed his mind, leaving his men to attack us. If you have a squad of investigators to send -- or even an off-duty guard or two looking to earn a little bonus -- they might find what you're looking for."
Field Marshal Cressida Kroft nods, "Certainly, paladin Darkbane, I'd appreciate if you can hear him out. And you're right," she acknowledges Caulder, "The butchery has been left unattended for too long; I'll send a patrol to search it and seal it for now; before it can fall into the hands of looters. It doesn't matter for the purposes of punishing the deserters - but it'll go down easier with the public if they seem less like martyrs."
She returns her attention to Esmerelda, "Find your way downstairs, you'll get to Verik in one of the holding cells before his more permanent incarceration."
"You want backup, Darkbane?" Caulder asks, flexing his gauntleted hand menacingly. "Or you think he'll be more likely to talk if you go alone?"
"Thank you, Field Marshal." She removes herself with a slight bow.
She gives Caulder a small smile "Your help is always appreciated. But before we go visit Verik, let's help the other two to the barracks and into bed."
"I can help myself to bed, but thank you for offering," Ten replied. "Are you two sure that you can handle Verik on your own? If you need somebody to play good banker, just ask."
"Come on, dwarf, up and at 'em." Caulder offers Pagrip a hand up good-naturedly. "A square meal will you do you good; sounds like you almost became one today."
With great reluctance, Pagrip stands up. He nods. "Food, yes. I could definitely use some food. Lead on." He straightens his back and attempts to look alert and ready. They haven't gone very far, however, before he's slouched over again and looking ready to fall asleep while still standing.
Once he's had a bite to eat, he finds a place to curl up and fall fast asleep.
Ten and Pagrip find some well deserved rest in some bunk beds; while Caulder and Esmerelda find the cells. Two guards bar the way, but are quite helpful once Esmerelda explains who she is looking for. Half a minute later she and Caulder enter a dimly lit holding cell, currently occupied by Verik Vancaskerkin. He's stripped of his possessions, wearing only a loincloth and is tied to a chair. He looks up, a swollen cheek and puffy eyed. "Aha. Is this where I spill the beans on my nefarious plans?"
Esmerelda 3860
Caulder 4220
Ten 3340
Pagrip 3680
"Verik! Who did this to you? I will give the person who did that a stiff talking to. And after you came so quietly too. Most bellow and shout, but not you. This is unacceptable." Esmerelda exclaims with a hurt expression.
"Unfortunately, first I have to ask you if you if you know anything about the people that have been vanishing around the All the Worlds Meat?"
"Caulder, you are a cleric. Can't you dress Veriks wounds? Please?"
Caulder eyes the bonds connecting Verik to the chair suspiciously. "I suppose he's secured," he admits grudgingly before presenting his holy symbol. As a bare minimum of healing power pulses through the room, he pulls up another chair, probably used by the interrogators, turns it around and straddles it, folding his arms across its back as he keeps a supervisory eye on the proceedings.
Verik's cheeks flush a tad rosier as the positive energy washes over him. He nods to Caulder, "Thank you. The treatment here is what I expected when returning with you. It's not so bad, when you consider that I might have been arrested by the Hellknights. I have to hope that my lady friend can intercede on my behalf before I they hang me." He gives Esmerelda's question some due thought, before replying: "Honestly, I've not come across trouble around All the World's Meat. I suppose there will always be rumors and people disappearing."
Verik adds that, "If something's been happening, I suppose there's a chance that Cow Hammer Boys have something to do with it. I don't know who they are, but I heard the name in passing. Apparently some stronghands that can get things done. The butchery didn't need things done, so I never investigated further."
"Thank you, Caulder. Come now Verik, there must be something, no matter how small, that you can tell us?"
Verik relays his bit of information on the Cow Hammer Boys. "I'm sorry, that is really all I can think of."
"One more question that could do a lot to clear you and your men," Caulder pipes up from his chair. "What kind of meat were you selling, and where were you getting it from?"
Caulder thinks he's quite familiar with all the regular gangs. The Highstreet Howlers. The Gramovin Seven. The Slicksters. But he's not heard of the Cow Hammer Boys before.
Verik explains that, "Mostly whatever we could get our hands on. We had a pretty reliable supplier for cattle; and my... lady friend made sure that we had a starting supply of livestock. Mostly pig and cow really. After setting up I didn't pay much attention to the details, with the guards that came with me the place practically ran itself. I looked after the books, if there was a problem the guys called me down. Only happened once; when you guys came knocking on the All the World's Meat."
"So," Caulder gets to his feet, swinging the chair out from under him, "you wouldn't know anything about why 'the guys' had a dwarf laid out on the butcher table, ready to chop up. Listen, Vancaskerkin, you might really be totally oblivious to the kind of men you had working for you. But for someone who has a problem with following orders, you seem to have been awfully sure that your underlings were only doing what you said and no more. I'd think you'd want to keep a closer eye on exactly what was going on in the back rooms of that place. We done here, Darkbane?"
"We are done here, Caulder." Esme rises up to leave and nonchalantly she asks "Ah Verik, who did you say was your lady friend was again?"
"haha!" Verik laughs, "Good one! Good luck with the disappearances."
Esmerelda leaves Verik with a wave. [b]"Come on, Caulder. Let's get some rest. Unless you want to go and investigate tonight?"
"You're in no shape to run into more trouble," he tells Esmerelda, eyeing her body up and down, still bearing the wounds and bruises of her scuffle at the butcher shop. "Here, this is on the house," he reaches out to her. "Besides," he goes on, "the dwarf is already asleep, and it'd be easier to wake the dead than him. I'm sure the Field Marshal will find us enough trouble to get into tomorrow that we don't need to go looking for any tonight."
When morning arrives Esmerelda awakes to pleasant ease-of-limbs. The filth fever that had taken hold of her had, for the most part, cleared out of her system. All that remained now was the stench.
Pagrip and Ten are doing considerably better as well; they look fresh and revived as if they are ready to do anything. As the paladin gets out of her bunk she sees that the dwarf had been reading something. "Seems the Field Marshall is busy, but she's left us a missive and a key."
I trust our hospitality is sufficient, alas, our resources at this stage aren't. I've not been able to spare the manpower to follow-up on All the World's Meat, and would consider it a favor to me to have a second look and ensure the place is sealed properly. To wit, the key to the butchery.
Try not to delay too long, I respectfully ask your presence this evening.
signed
F.M. C. Kroft.
Pagrip stands up and stretches. "Right, guess we're going back to the philanthropic butchery. I wonder if there's an unhappy crowd gathering out front wondering when it's going to open." He begins to gather his belongings. "We should take care not to incite them." He glances only briefly at Caulder as he says that last sentence.
"What?" he answers the dwarf's look. "Citizens love me ... as long as they're law-abiding."
Esme gives a good stretch after she gets out of her bunk, popping a few bones in the process. "A beautiful morning and praise be to Abadar." she beams at the rest.
She reads the missive from Croft FM and almost gleefully announces "It seems our work with All the Worlds Meat is not yet done. I think we should...Ten! What is that thing growing on your neck?"
... and experiment 1,875 has provided interesting results. The paladin seems disturbed by the growth. Perhaps she has a thing for spikes...
"What, this?" Ten asked as he finished making some notes in his formulae book. "I'll attach it somewhere else, somewhere a little more discreet."
Ten then removed the spiked tumour from his neck and placed on his upper right arm where his shirt sleeves could partially hide it.
"Better?"
"A little. But what *is* it?"
"It's merely the alchemical interpretation of the arcane process of bonding with a familiar. I learned about it during my time at the Acadamae. The gestation period finished overnight. I was growing it under my arm originally," Ten replied, as he pointed under his right arm, "It must have moved while I was sleeping. You can touch it, if you like. It won't bite... Hmm, I still need to think up a name for the little fellow. Suggestions?"
Pagrip watches in fascination as Ten moves the strange growth to another part of his body. "A name for a giant wart?" the dwarf says. "That's a tough one. There aren't any typically warty names out there. Maybe you should go with something pretentious like a noble-sounding name or something. Like Lord Reginald or something. Nobody would expect a wart named that. Good way to take people by surprise. Good for a laugh." Pagrip chuckles.
"Lord Reginald..." Ten mused, "I like it! What do you think about that, Reginald?" Ten asked the lump on his arm. "He likes it too! Thanks Pagrip."
The canteen in the barracks is serving a surprisingly savory slob this morning. A traditional staple food in the Korvosan guard, where the powers that be believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and should contain all three food groups: vegetables, meat and other.
"Lord Reginald..." Ten mused, "I like it! What do you think about that, Reginald?" Ten asked the lump on his arm. "He likes it too! Thanks Pagrip."
"Any time!" Pagrip replies with a chuckle.
Caulder glares at the dwarf and the distiller as if daring them to keep talking and put him off the breakfast he has just sat down to. "What kind of freak names his body parts?" he grumbles. "Beyond the obvious, I mean...."